Evaluating Oregon's matchup at Michigan in 2024

For the first time since 2007, Oregon will travel to Ann Arbor to face Michigan. This one will be quite different though, taking place in November and as members of the Big Ten. A conference matchup between the defending national champions and a serious contender heading into the 2024 season.

Michigan has all the silverware at the moment but if you ask Justin Hopkins of On3’s Scoop Duck, there will be more questions surrounding the Wolverines heading into the game. Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL has him wondering how Sherrone Moore will do in his replacement.

“Three weeks ago, we’re talking about a different game, I think,” Hopkins said during Tuesday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “Harbaugh leaves to go to the NFL, they promote Sherrone Moore. So, now you wonder — what does this Michigan team look like? What’s their identity?”

Moore does have in-game experience as a head coach, taking over for Harbaugh for six games. None were more important than the win against Ohio State, sealing Michigan’s path to the Big Ten Championship and eventually, the College Football Playoff.

A lot has changed since then for Michigan. Harbaugh is not the only person leaving the program in favor of the NFL. Coaches have followed him to Los Angeles while plenty of players declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Moore has a different kind of challenge ahead of him in Hopkins’ eyes.

“Of course, Sharrone Moore did a terrific job with that team in Harbaugh’s absence but this is a different animal. This is not filling in for three of four games. This is your team, your identity. And not to mention, they lost a lot of really good coaches and coordinators from that staff.

“I don’t think they rebuilt in a way that makes them a contender like they are,” Hopkins said. “But it’s certainly a team that you can’t overlook. I’m sure there are many Michigan fans that would love to get a little vengeance for that beatdown Dennis Dixon, Chip Kelly, and those guys did on them.”

Everyone involved with the game will be hoping the preseason hype is still palpable by Nov. 2. In the new-look Big Ten, the duo are expected to be two of the biggest brands the conference has to offer.

Michigan will be coming off a rivalry matchup against Michigan State, while Oregon will host Illinois the week before. There will be no looking ahead to each other, no matter how well either team is performing at the time.